Trip to Preston 26-10-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
21108	Preston BS	Moor Nook, by Birkett Drive	9	Stagecoach Lancashire
21107	Moor Nook, by Birkett Drive	Preston BS	9	Stagecoach Lancashire
15906	Preston BS	Red Scar, opp Roman Way	1	Stagecoach Lancashire
19041	Red Scar, by Roman Way	Preston BS	1	Stagecoach Lancashire
1102	Preston BS	Walton-le-Dale, by Higher Walton Road	152	Transdev Lancashire United
15571	Walton-le-Dale, by Sir Robert Peel	Preston BS	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
18359	Preston BS	Lea, o/s Police Station	68	Stagecoach Lancashire
15913	Lea, opp Police Station	Preston BS	61	Stagecoach Lancashire

Today we decided to go to Preston. We didn't do much research for the trip today as we didn't decided where we were going until quite late. We checked the weather which was for cloudy with sunny intervals. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 today, heading onto Stanley Matthews Way and then onto the A50. We then went North on the A500 to Shelton where we diverted off the road to get LPG. We got on the Westbound A53 and then back onto the A500. We then get onto the Northbound M6. The road was very busy and it took a while to get up to junction 18. North of Junction 18 we were passed by Hawkes Setra coach BF03 HOF on a day trip.

Hawkes BF03 HOF on the M6

We carried on up the M6 Northbound and the traffic thinned out as we headed North. We did the M6 up to Junction and then turned onto the Westbound A59 to do the last 2 miles or so into central Preston. We then parked in the bus station car park. We headed down to the toilets and then we went into the cafe for dinner. Present in the bus station was Transdev Lancashire United 1101 on the #152 to Burnley. Matthew had a breakfast for dinner washed down with a bottle of Coke. After we ate we went around the bus station to see what we could catch. We picked up some Stagecoach timetables and a map of local services. We saw required Stagecoach Lancashire 21108 on a #9 to Moor Nook and we decided to do it.

Stagecoach Lancashire 21108 in Preston bus station

We got on the bus and booked a day ticket. The driver issued us with a Citi group ticket at £5.50 which weren't aware of until today. We sat down near the back and the bus set off. We traveled out of the centre of Preston and then onto the A59 towards the M6. Part way along we turned at a roundabout and then turned right to go though cemeteries on both sides of the road otherwise know as the 'dead centre of town!'. The bus emptied out on Grizledale Crescent and we decided to get off on a quiet part of the estate before the bus turned to head back towards Preston. We got up to get off and Matthew photographed the inside of the bus as we stood up to get off.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 21108

As the bus went off into the distance, Matthew got another picture of the bus.

Stagecoach Lancashire 21108 in Moor Nook

According to the map, we only had around 10 minutes to wait for the next bus back. We also spotted a #8 was on the stop flag, and whilst we waited for the next #9, Rotala Preston Bus 30916 appeared on the #8 service.

Preston Bus 30916 in Moor Nook

A few minutes later we heard a noise around the corner and then we saw the bus approach. It was dud Stagecoach Lanacashire 21107. We got on and sat down near the back. We had done this bus on our first visit to Preston on a #68 to Lea back in August this year. We turned onto Pope Lane and then headed back towards Preston via the A59. Unlike last time, Matthew was able to get a decent picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 21107.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 21107

As we pulled into the bus station we spotted Stagecoach Lancashire 15906 on the next #1 to Longridge. We got off 21107 and then got a picture of 15906 before walking over to get on it.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15906 in Preston bus station

We went upstairs, and as it was nearly empty upstairs Matthew got a picture inside the bus too.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15906

We sat down and I checked the 'buses I have travelled on' page and was surprised to find that this bus was required. I thought we had been on this last time we visited Preston and this turned out not to be the case. The bus set off out of the town centre and then we headed out of town along Longridge Road. The ticket we had was only valid up to Red Scar, which was just East of the M6 motorway. When we crossed the motorway we got up and got off 15906. We crossed the road and waited at the stop. As we had just passed a bus when we got off, we had time for Matthew to have a quick bus stop picnic. This consisted of a bottle of Irn Bru and a Bakewell Slice that we had brought at the bus station cafe earlier. Just as Matthew had finished eating we saw an Enviro400 approaching. It was required Stagecoach Lancashire 19041.

Stagecoach Lancashire 19041 in Red Scar

We got on the bus and went upstairs. We sat down near the back for the journey back to Preston. The bus was nearly empty upstairs. We carried on down Longridge Road back into Preston and then into the bus station. When the bus emptied, Matthew got a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 19041 too.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 19041

Matthew went to the toilet and then he decided he wanted a break from doing Stagecoach buses. Transdev Lancashire United 1102 was on stand and matthew wanted to do it. I asked the driver if it went along any of the Stagecoach routes, and with the help of the map we worked out we could pay to do the bus to Walton-le-Dale and come back on either a #150 or a #125 service. The adult fare to Walton-le-Dale was £1.70 each. We got on the bus which was quite full and we sat near the back. I advised Matthew to take a picture of the empty seats behind us as the bus might fill up as we left town.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 1102

The bus left the centre of town and then came up alongside the Homebase store, we turned right onto London road and we followed a #125 service down to Walton-le-Dale alongside the Ribble. When the #125 in front of us turned right at a roundabout and we turned left we knew it was time to get off. Matthew jogged past the bus stop to get a good picture of Transdev Lancashire United 1102 before it departed towards Burnley.

Transdev Lancashire United 1102 in Walton-le-Dale

We crossed the road and walked back to stop that served both route outside a pub. Matthew made friends with a bloke who had just come out of the pub who was a little worst for wear! Whilst we waited for the next Stagecoach bus back we saw Transdev Lancashire united 1098 on the #152 to Preston.

Transdev Lancashire United 1098 in Walton-le-Dale

A couple of minutes later we saw an Enviro400 round the corner and we saw it was stagecoach Lancashire 15571.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15571 in Walton-le-Dale

We got on and sat upstairs. This was another bus that we thought was dud but turned out to be required. The bus headed back into Preston along the A6 and then we headed into the bus station. When the bus emptied out Matthew got a picture inside stagecoach 15571 too.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15571

We then had a bit of a break from the buses. We went tot the shop and brought a can of Coke and some chocolate, plus a toffee flavoured flapjack. We sat down near the high numbered stands and Matthew ate the flapjack. There were a couple of required buses on the #1 to Longridge include Stagecoach Lancashire 15823. Matthew had taken a fancy to doing dud Stagecoach Lancashire 18359 which was on stand but not got its display turned on. Dud Stagecoach Lancashire 15908 was on the next #61 to Blackpool and dud Stagecoach Lancashire 18364 was on what we thought was the next #68 to Blackpool. We had a bit of a walk around the bus station and we took some pictures from the west side before retuning to the Stagecoach stands. Just as we thought we were going to be doing something else, a driver appeared for Stagecoach Lancashire 18359 and the display was set for #68 to Blackpool.

Stagecoach Lancashire 18359 in Preston bus station

We booked to Lea as we done before the last time we did Stagecoach Lancashire 18359 on the #68 service. We went upstairs and sat down. The buses headed out of town past the outdoor market. The bus was quite full to I advised Matthew to get a picture of the insied of the bus before it filled up any more!

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 18359

We headed out of town along the A583 and under the west coast main line. The #61 and #68 take similar routes and we kept seeing Stagecoach Lancashire 15908 in front of us as headed West. As we went into Lea we were right behind Stagecoach Lancashire 15908. We got up and got off outside the police station and the 2 buses were at the stop at the same time. We then crossed the road to wait for the next bus back to Preston. At the stop we saw there was a #61 due around 2 minutes ago and we hadn't seen one go past. A minute or so later we saw Stagecoach Lancashire 15913 approaching which we knew was a required one.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15913 in Lea

We got on and went upstairs. We then headed back into Preston along a slightly more Northerly route into town the the #68. We crossed over the Blackpool line and then swept down hill into town. After going into town under the west coast main line along the A583, we went down an underpass to cross the A59 Ringway and then we appeared near the Northern corner of the bus station. We then loop around to the south end of the bus station and the bus dropped us off near the high numbered stands. As the bus emptied Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15913.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15913

We got off the bus and mum was waiting for us. Matthew wasn't quite ready to go home, he a sweep around the bus station taking a few pictures. We first saw Trandev Lancashire United 1840 on a #280 to clitheroe

Transdev Lancashire United 1840 in Preston bus station

Next to this was Cumfybus MX09 MJK on a #80 to Fleetwood.

Cumfybus MX09 MJK in Preston bus station

Towards the Southern end of the bus station was Stagecoach Lancashire 21108 on the #9 service.

Stagecoach Lancashire 21108 in Preston bus station

Matthew then visited the toilet and then took a picture inside the bus station over the exit subway.

View inside Preston bus station

After a few more picture we headed up the the car park were there were sausage rolls and drinks waiting for us. We left the car park and we headed out of town along the A59.We then joined the southbound M6. It was now going dark and it had started to rain. It was the last Saturday before British Summer Time ends, and it would now be dark on every return journey home until next spring. We got to the A500 which we did down to the A50. We then headed into Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz. There were only 3 buses parked up at the front of the spare ground. Firstly we saw VW minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

Next to this was there newest coach, M534 RSO.

Z Carz M534 RSO in Longton

Lastly was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We went along willow Row to see if there was anything we could photograph in the Willow Row compound (there wasn't), and then we headed home along Longton Hall Road passing First Potteries 40150 on the #22 to Longton. We got home a little after 19:00 and Matthew had a late tea of bangers and mash with carrots followed by chessecake. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark